Dr. Frykman’s Vibrant Potential Blog

The last couple weeks I’ve been getting a lot of practice members coming

in that are either sick or just getting over being sick. The flu and colds

seem to be getting a bunch of people right now.

Now, when people get sick, what’s the first thing they do?

Cancel their appointments.

I’ve had practice members call to tell me they’d have to reschedule their

appointment because they weren’t feeling well.

My recommendation to you is if you’re not feeling well, don’t cancel your

appointment. Come in and get your adjustment.

Here’s why. When you get chiropractic care, it improves the function of

your body. This includes boosting your immune system. Adjustments are a

great way to naturally help you get over being sick. In fact, studies have been

done that show a 200% increase in immune system function in people that

get adjusted regularly!

I’ve seen it countless times before. Patients who get adjusted when they

get sick recover faster and feel better sooner.

So if you are struggling with a cold, the flu, a sinus infection or whatever

ailment, let me help you get over it by giving your immune system a boost!

One question patients ask me is, “What if I or my child is contagious?” My

answer is if you think you or your child is contagious and you worry about

getting others in the office sick, then wait a day or two and then come in

to get adjusted.

The next time you get sick, try adding chiropractic care to your plan of

attack. You’ll be glad you did!

Dr. Chris Frykman

Shakopee, MN

With Valentine’s Day quickly approaching, I wanted to educate you a littleabout heart health and cholesterol drugs.

Statin drugs are the drugs of choice for cholesterol. The problem with these drugs is they pose serious health problems. Some of these include:

* Inability to concentrate
* Confusion
* Amnesia
* Depression
* Impotence
* Lowered sex drive
* Weakened immune system
* Shortness of breath
* Fatigue
* Nerve pain
* Muscle weakness
* Liver damage
* Kidney damage

Study after study has demonstrated the potentially debilitating effects of statin drugs.

Also, if you put the blame on LDL cholesterol, you don’t solve the underlying problems that cause heart disease.

Cholesterol is the big bright beacon when it comes to mainstream medicine’s take on heart health. The problem is, despite 20 years of propaganda from the heart health industry, the fact still remains that LDL cholesterol levels are still a terribly poor predictor of whether or not you’re going to have a heart attack.

In fact, it may surprise you to learn that 75% of heart attack victims have normal cholesterol levels! My advice is to forget about cholesterol and statin drugs and focus instead on the true indicators of heart health. Here’s what you should really be looking out for if you want to know whether you’re at risk:

* Triglycerides
* Insulin
* HDL Cholesterol
* Blood Pressure
* Fasting Blood Glucose
* Waist Size

Triglycerides are the kind of fat in your bloodstream that clogs your arteries. You can lower them safely and naturally by getting more omega-3 and vitamin D. Grass fed meats, fish, and eggs are rich in omega-3s. You do get much of your vitamin D from sunlight but in Minnesota, particularly in the winter months, many people don’t get enough. You can also get your vitamin D from supplements - 1,000 IUs per day will often do the trick. Another great helper with triglycerides is L-carnitine.

Insulin is the hormone that regulates blood sugar levels. And high blood sugar levels lead to obesity, heart disease, and diabetes. If your insulin levels are high, you may be developing insulin resistance, the cause of diabetes. Cut carbs out of your diet and replace them with protein.

HDL Cholesterol is the heart of the matter when it comes to heart disease. Your total cholesterol doesn’t matter if your HDL levels are high. If your HDL’s above 85, you’re at no greater risk for heart disease if your total cholesterol is 150 or 350. A combination of exercise and dietary changes are all you need to boost your HDL. Eating more lean meats (either red or white) is a great way to raise your HDL naturally.

Blood Pressure is another indicator of heart disease risk. You can easily lower it through exercise, diet, and supplements. CoQ10, potassium, calcium, magnesium, and vitamin C have all been shown to benefit people with high blood pressure. Garlic and cayenne pepper also contain natural ingredients that reduce hypertension. Salt has a bad rap when it comes to blood pressure, there is evidence that shows that if you get high quality sea salt, which has more minerals than just sodium and chloride, it can actually lower your blood pressure.

My job as your doctor is not just to provide you chiropractic care…it’s also to teach you how you can be healthier, happier, and live longer. I’ve found that the healthiest people are also the most educated.

If you take the information I teach you in these emails and use it, you’ll see great improvements in your health and quality of life.

Have a great day and I’ll send you some more great information soon!

Helping you achieve YOUR Vibrant Potential,

Dr. Chris Frykman

Shakopee, MN.

You know how most doctors tell you your appendix has no use? Well, thatmight not be true.

New research done at the Duke University Medical Center think the purpose of the appendix could be to repopulate your gut with beneficial bacteria after bouts of sickness.

You see, when you have problems like food poisoning, diarrhea, chlorea or other intestinal problems, the contents of your lower gut get flushed away… and this includes both the good and bad bacteria.

The position of the appendix is such that it avoids the purge. The beneficial bacteria within the appendix can repopulate the gut prior to bad bacteria gaining a foothold. Some have compared it to “rebooting” the gut, which is a major part of all good holistic colon cleanse programs.

Surgeons are quick to point out that in a “modern industrial society” the purpose of the appendix is marginalized by advances in modern medicine. According to the CDC 300 to 400 Americans die from appendicitis each year out of the approximately 320,000 who are diagnosed with it. It is for this reason that the CDC and surgeons recommend having the appendix removed in the event of inflammation.

Professor Douglas Theobald of Brandies University says that the idea “seems by far the most likely” explanation, and it “makes evolutionary sense.”

This news could cause a less cavalier approach to the removal of other “useless” body parts. Professor Gary Huffnagle of the University of Michigan says, “I’ll bet eventually we’ll find the same sort of thing with the tonsils.”

So even though man-kind has made tremendous advances in health care, it seems that our creator had a purpose for all of our body parts after all. Who’d have thought?

Create a great day!

Dr. Chris Frykman

Shakopee, MN.

This seems to be the time of year when people start making goals andresolutions to improve their life. You know how it is - people starting diets to shed those holiday pounds, people wiping the dust off their treadmills, people vowing to eat better, and so on.

Have you made any goals or resolutions for this year yet?

Well, in regards to improving your health, I wanted to share a quote with you. It’s from Thomas Edison. He said:

“The doctor of the future will give no medicine, but will interest his patients in the care of the human frame, in diet, and in the cause and prevention of disease.”

This is a brilliant insight from a brilliant man.

You see, most prescription drugs don’t “heal” anything. Take high blood pressure, high cholesterol and diabetes as examples. Does taking medicine “cure” people of these health problems? Nope.

Now, I’m not going to tell you that all drugs are bad and that there aren’t circumstances where medicine is helpful because that would be foolish. But what I am saying is that prescription drugs mostly treat symptoms and do not improve your health and wellness.

So what should all of us be doing to improve our health? Like Edison said, we should be focusing on the health of our frame, focusing on our diet, and our approach to health should be “prevention” instead of “reaction.”

Let’s talk about your “frame.” Most people simply ignore taking care of their frame and that is a tragic mistake that can have devastating consequences on your health as you age. To keep your frame healthy, you HAVE TO exercise. This is not optional. You have to get your body moving at least 3 times a week…more if possible. There are so many positive benefits to exercise that it’s crazy not to do it.

Next, your spine and nervous system are two of the most important parts of your frame. If these two areas of your frame become unhealthy then it’s impossible to have optimal health. Getting chiropractic adjustments and exercising on a regular basis will do wonders for your overall health.

The last thing I want to discuss is your mindset. My question to you is do you have a mindset of prevention or reaction? To clarify, “prevention” is when you take care of yourself on a regular basis to “prevent” yourself from losing your health as you age. A “reaction” mindset is the exact opposite. If you have a “reaction” mindset, then you basically wait until you already have a health problem before you do anything. A reaction mindset focuses on pain and symptoms. A prevention mindset focuses on health and wellness. Which is better? Without a doubt it’s the prevention mindset. Just remember, without great health, it’s hard to enjoy life. Think about it - think about the last time your body was in pain or felt tired, sore, or achy. It’s pretty hard to get things done and enjoy life when you aren’t at your best, right?

So to summarize:
1. Take really good care of your frame. Get adjusted and exercise regularly.
2. Eat better. Enough said!
3. Develop the prevention mindset. Start taking care of yourself regularly.

Don’t focus on symptoms and don’t wait until you’re already having a health crisis.

I hope this has been helpful. Have a great day and I’ll talk to you soon!

Helping you to achieve YOUR Vibrant Potential,

Dr. Chris Frykman

Shakopee, MN.

P.S. Check out a video of me adjusting my 2 hour old daughter, Emma, on my website. Video

In early January, some disturbing news hit the Internet and the papers across America regarding health care.

And it wasn’t good news.

Did you see it, or did it slip by you?

Here are some of the headlines I saw:

“US Worst in Healthcare”

“France Best, US Worst in Preventable Healthcare”

“US Health Care Ranks Poorly Compared To Other Nations”

Here’s the deal - a new study by British researchers found that more than 100,000 Americans died from health problems that could have been prevented by timely and effective health care last year.

The study by Ellen Nolte and Martin McKee of the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine ranks the United States last among 19 developed nations in terms of health care. France, Japan and Australia topped the list. If the US performed as good as those top 3 countries, there would be 101,000 fewer deaths in the United States per year.

They also found that all countries in the study reduced their preventable deaths over a 5 year period by 16%, but the United States improved by only 4%.

What’s sad is the United States now spends a whopping $2.1 Trillion a year on health care each year…more than $7,000 a person. The problem is this spending does not equal better health care.

So what can you do to avoid a preventable death? You’ve got to make your
health one of your top priorities and do things on a regular basis to keep
yourself as healthy as possible. Don’t allow yourself to become a victim of
our failing health care system.

If you have any questions, send me an email and we’ll chat.

Helping you achieve YOUR Vibrant Potential,

Dr. Chris Frykman

Shakopee, MN.

Hi {!firstname_fix},

This fall, there has been a lot of news about lead in toys. And while we certainly donít want our children playing with toys that could be hazardous to their health, I wanted to put this in perspective a little.

You see, there are many things that are harmful to children’s health that you’ll never see on the news, and I wanted to go over a couple of them with you.

Here are a couple things that are worse than the lead in Mattel toys

1. Fast Food

Did you know that the children in our country are the most overweight and most obese in the world? It’s true. The two biggest reasons why our children are so unhealthy is a poor diet and a lack of physical exercise.

Fast food is extremely unhealthy for children. Not only are the foods often fried, homogenized, hydrogenated and otherwise altered, they’re also laced with chemical additives, taste enhancers, processed sugars, petrochemical food coloring and other unhealthy substances.

2. Processed meats containing Sodium Nitrate

Processed meats like hot dogs are made from processed meat parts then preserved with an ingredient called sodium nitrite. Sodium nitrate is a chemical that is very harmful to the body. This ingredient has been linked to cancer in the body.

If your family eats meat, thatís okay, just shop for 100% organic, free-range, antibiotic-free meats that have no nitrites or nitrates.

3. Antibacterial soap

Antibacterial soaps are a toxic cocktail of chemicals designed to kill life. After all, thatís how it kills bacteria. The problem is that it also harms people — especially infants and children who are trying to develop healthy nervous systems. Avoid all products claiming to be “antibacterial.” You’re better off using regular soap and water and letting your child’s immune system fight off common bacteria. The world isn’t sterile, after all. You can’t turn your house into a germ-free bubble.

4. ADHD drugs

Would you ever give your child street drugs like speed or meth? Probably not, but what if your doctor wrote you a prescription for speed and said your child needed it because he was ADHD? If you’re like most parents, you’d fall in step and start giving your child speed. But wait, you say:

ADHD drugs are not speed, are they? But of course they are. They belong to a class of drugs called amphetamines.

They are a class-II narcotic that is in the same drug classification as cocaine. They used to be illegally sold as speed. Now they’re prescription drugs, and they’re given to children in schools all across America (and elsewhere). Psychiatrists and drug companies are making a killing dosing up kids and infants on substances that used to be considered illegal street drugs (and that have no legitimate medical use whatsoever).

5. Cough syrup and over-the-counter medicines

Nearly all children’s over-the-counter medicines contain multiple toxic substances such as chemical sweeteners, preservatives and additives. Cough syrup, in particular, has been scientifically proven to be absolutely worthless in preventing coughs. Many “children’s” medicines are actually more toxic than their adult counterparts because they’re sweetened up and cosmetically enhanced with artificial colors made from petrochemicals.

Also, this fall, many of these over the counter medicines were pulled off the shelves because of their ineffectiveness.

6. Antidepressant drugs

Children as young as six months old are now being put on psychotropic drugs such as SSRIs (antidepressants). These drugs, we now know, cause suicidal thoughts and violent behavior, especially in young boys.

They imbalance brain chemistry and even alter the body’s metabolism of sugar, promoting diabetes and leading to rapid weight gain. These drugs are so dangerous that feeding them to children should be considered a crime.

Every single school shooting involving a child in the United States in the last 15 years has been linked to antidepressant drug use. Need I say more?

7. Soda

Aside from directly promoting diabetes and obesity, sodas also contain high amounts of phosphoric acid, a substance that dissolves bones and causes a loss of bone mineral density. This causes massive tooth decay as well as a shrinking jaw bone and overall skeletal fragility. Diet sodas are even worse, since they contain chemical sweeteners (NutraSweet) linked to neurological disorders and learning disabilities.

8. Synthetic vitamins

Many children’s vitamins are made with cheap, synthetic “vitamin” chemicals that actually harm people who take them. Plus, many are loaded up with artificial colors, sucrose and chemical sweeteners. Avoid cheap, store-bought children’s vitamins. I have several high quality vitamins available for purchase in my office.

9. Shampoo and bath products

Virtually all popular shampoo and bath products sold on the market contain cancer-causing chemicals. The ingredients read like a top-40 list of toxic chemicals. Virtually none of these chemicals have ever been tested or approved for use on humans.

I recommend using skin care products for your kids that are pure, safe, and don’t have synthetic and toxic chemicals in them. There are several companies that produce good products. Ask me about them if you like. In fact, if you’re wondering about the products under your kitchen or bathroom sink, bring them in! With kinesiology (that’s the muscle testing that I do) we can ask your body if a certain product is good for you or not.
So there’s a few things that in my opinion are harmful to the children of America that you NEVER hear about. Most parents have little to no concern whatsoever for any of the things, but they are going to go crazy over tiny amounts of lead in their Barbie toys and Elmo stuffed animals.

Now, do I think having lead in toys is a good thing? No, but with all of the mainstream media attention that “lead in toys” has gotten lately, I just wanted to put some things in perspective.

This is a great example of how most people will think anything that mainstream media tells them to think, while the “real issues” go unnoticed. It’s the classic American contradiction and if it all weren’t so downright tragic, it would almost be funny. Almost.

Have a great day and we’ll talk soon.

Keeping things in perspective,

Dr. Chris Frykman

Shakopee, MN.

Did you know that more than one million men will die this year, with the leading causes of those deaths being heart disease, cancer, injuries, strokes and lung disease?

And, with the exception of injuries, the rest of these causes can all be traced to lifestyle habits and changes that have been made to our food, and many other products that we use on a daily basis. (And even injuries could probably be traced to lifestyle choices. Think about the dock worker at the warehouse who runs into some boxes with his forklift. If he had been getting chiropractic adjustments, his response time may have been better, thus avoiding the accident!)

Sometimes it seems like we are fighting an uphill battle, doesn’t it? We are all aging, which breaks our bodies down (Urgghhh), we have stress that can negatively affect us, the food we eat no longer has the nutritional value it once did, and many of the foods and household products we use have chemicals that are harmful to our bodies.

So what should we do? Well, in addition to getting chiropractic care on a regular basis to make sure your nervous system, spine, and muscles are all healthy and functioning properly, it is a good idea to get a blood test each year.

Getting the right blood tests is a great step to monitoring your health and countering any problems that may be quietly starting to develop in your body. Remember, most health problems start out painless.

Here’s the thing: a good blood test will help you identify if there are any problems with your chemistry and give you the chance to take positive action towards becoming healthier.

Here are 8 tests you men or your husband/boyfriend should add to your overall blood test. Get these done once a year.

Here’s the list:

1. Coenzyme Q10
2. Homocysteine
3. Insulin
4. Testosterone
5. Total Estrogens (yes men have estrogen too)
6. HDL Cholesterol
7. Triglycerides
8. PSA (Prostate Specific Antigen)

These are great tests to monitor your health and take appropriate action if levels are out of balance.

That’s it for today. If it’s been awhile since you’ve been in the office, come in for an adjustment. I’d love to see you and give you a “tune up!”

Helping you reach YOUR Vibrant Potential,

Dr. Chris Frykman

Shakopee, MN.

P.S. Click Here to check out some of the great talks coming up here at Vibrant Potential. I hope to see you at one of them!

I came across an article in the Washington Post about antimicrobial soaps that I wanted you to know about.

Our country has an obsession with cleanliness, and some of that obsession is fed by the companies (and their marketing) that sell household products.

In fact, according to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), our country spends almost $1 billion annually on antimicrobial products. And the leading antimicrobial product is hand washes that contain the bug battling chemical triclosan.

But do antibacterial agents like triclosan work and are they safe?

Some researchers say there is no evidence the antibacterial agents are any better than regular soap and water. In fact, a 2004 study in the Annals of Internal Medicine studied 228 New York households that were randomly divided into two groups: One used regular soap and water and the other used antimicrobial soap. The results showed there were no health differences between the two groups.

The New York study’s lead author, Elaine Larson of Columbia University did say that antibacterial soaps may offer benefits when there are medically vulnerable people in the house: someone who is ill, has an immune disease, or an elder.

Dr. Shmeul Shoham, an infectious disease specialist at Washington Hospital Center says, “For general use, antibacterial soaps are not superior to cleansing with regular soap and water.” His view is backed by the conclusions of an advisory panel to the Food and Drug Administration, which voted 11 to 1 in 2005 that, when it comes to keeping us healthy, antibacterial soaps and washes are no more effective.

And while the arguments continue over whether antibacterial soap does any good, there’s a second concern over whether it may actually do harm.

One of the problems is that antimicrobial soaps kill both the bad and good bacteria. And when good bacteria are killed, it increases your risk of getting sick.

Also, there is speculation that chemicals used in antimicrobial soaps may be causing bacteria to become more resistant to commonly used antibiotics. This is essentially the same scenario that is happening from the overuse of antibiotic medications.

Also a “germ free” environment may actually weaken our immune systems.

The “Hygiene Hypothesis” is a theory that children build their immune systems from infancy by putting in their mouths toys and objects that have germs and bacteria on them.

A number of studies have linked the development of allergies, asthma and skin problems in children to their having been raised in environments that are too sterile. According to many, you need a little dirt to train your immune system correctly!

So here’s the takeaway message: If you are worried about sanitation, getting a cold, getting the flu, or even E. coli for that matter, you already know that you should wash your hands thoroughly.

And regular soap and water will work just as good as antibacterial soaps.

Helping your reach YOUR Vibrant Potential,

Dr. Chris Frykman

Shakopee, MN.

It’s never fun to talk about, but we are all aging. And as we age, wouldn’t you agree that we all want to look good, feel good, and be as healthy as possible?

I think so. Now you know that getting chiropractic care is a great thing to do as you age, but I wanted to give you a few other quick tips you can do to “turn back the clock” and rev up your anti-aging powers!

1. Decrease the amount of calories that you eat. For some of you, cutting back on your calories will actually help you INCREASE your energy! I would also recommend increasing your protein intake and decrease the simple (bad) carbohydrates. (This doesn’t mean starve yourself - email me if you have questions.)

2. Increase the amount of fresh fruits and vegetables. Yes, when your Mom told you to, “eat your vegetables,” she was right. For those of you who have trouble getting enough fruits and vegetables, there are supplements you can take to help.

3. Increase your exercise. Life is motion, so get moving! You don’t have to
become a gym rat, but you do need at least 4 days a week of exercise. You
will keep your muscles and joints healthy, as well as your heart. There are so many benefits to exercising that it really makes it a “no brainer” to do it regularly.

4. Take a GOOD multivitamin once a day. I don’t mean the junk you’ll find at most stores. A good one. We offer some of the best nutritional supplements available, so check with us for your supplement needs. I would also take a good fish oil supplement too!

5. Get some sun! Did you know that most Americans are deficient in vitamin D? And did you know that the best source of vitamin D is the sun? It’s important that you get healthy amounts of sunlight because you don’t want to be deficient in vitamin D, and there are multiple benefits to your health and psychological well being. Try to average at least 7 hours of sunlight a week.

6. Have your hormone levels checked…especially women. As we age, our
hormonal balance often changes. It is wise to have your hormone levels checked at least once a year and make changes accordingly.

The bottom line is it’s important to have a plan for your health as you age. If you develop a plan and execute it, you’ll live healthier, happier, and more youthful as you age.

Have a great day!

Helping you achieve your Vibrant Potential,

Dr. Chris Frykman

Shakopee, MN.

P.S. Isn’t this great information? If you’d like to receive great informative emails like this blog post conveniently delivered to you inbox just email me and request to be put on my e-newsletter list.